Illuminated railing



June 3, 1969 c. E. SACKETT, JR 3,448,257

ILLUMINATED RAILING Filed Dec. 13, 1965 INVENTOR. CHARLES E. SAG/(5T7 JR.

ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,448,257 ILLUMINATED RAILING Charles E. Sackett, Jr., 6374 Tooley St., San Diego, Calif. 92114 Filed Dec. 13, 1965, Ser. No. 513,213

, Int. Cl. F21v 33/00 US. Cl. 240-2 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A railing for lighting a walking surface has two horizontally extending superimposed rails carrying between them an opaque box in which a lamp is mounted. One panel of the box has transparent or translucent sections for transmitting light to the walking surface.

The present invention relates generally to a railing and more specifically to an illuminated hand railing.

The railing of this invention is adapted to be used along a walk area and essentially comprises a rail spaced from and disposed on one side of the walk area and an opaque panel that includes a section therein of light permeable material. A light emitting element is disposed on one side of the panel and means is provided for supporting the rail and the panel.

Other features and the advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing wherein preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side view of one embodiment of the railing of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the railing shown in FIG. 1, depicting the panel supporting means; and

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the railing shown in FIG. 1, depiciting the construction of the railing support means.

Referring more in detail to the drawing, and more particularly to FIG. 1, the preferred embodiment of the railing 21 includes two rails 23 and 25 that are spaced laterally from the walk sunface 27 and vertically from each other. Two opaque panels 29 and 31 include light permeable sections 33 therein and are supported between the rails 23 and 25 by support means 35. The light permeable sections 33 extend through the panel and are oriented for transmitting light therethrough and onto the walk surface 27. The rail support means 34, includes a hollow vertical post 36, which vertical post comprises a lower section 38 and an upper section 40.

The panel support means -35 is shown more in detail in FIG. 2. In the preferred embodiment, support mem* bers 37 and 39 are supported by the lower and upper rails 23 and 25, respectively. Each of these support members 37 and 39 preferably includes two pairs 41 and 43 of extending tongues 45. The extending tongues 45 of each pair 41 and 43 are spaced from each other surfficiently for receiving the panel 29 or 31 and to retain said panel. The support members 37 and 39 are spaced opposing each other in such a manner that the panel 29 or 31 will extend therebetween and will be retained by the tongues 45. iIt will be noted that these tongues 45 may be of the extruded and continuous type or may be merely pegs located along the length of the panel 29 or 31.

The support members 37 and 39 are each 'aflixed to the respective rails 23 and 25 in similar fashion. Each is spaced from its respective railing by a tube 47 and is supported on the railing by a bolt 49 that is adapted to extend through holes included in the support members and to be threaded into the rail 23 or 25. Referring 3,448,257 Patented June 3, 1969 still to FIG. 2, it will be noted that the rails 23 and 25 are of semicircular or oval, cross section so that the rain and other elements falling on the exterior thereof will be induced to run off.

Referring to FIG. 3, it will be noted that a rod 51 is provided, which rod is threaded on both ends. Said rod extends through the hollow post 40 and through holes included in the lower rail 23. The upper end of this rod is threaded into the lower side of the upper rail 25 and the lower end extends through the support bracket 53 and a nut 55 is screwed thereon. The support bracket 53 is secured to the walk surface 27 by screws 57.

In the preferred embodiment, a removable end stop 59, as shown in FIG. 1, is removably aifixed to the support members 37 and 39 and said stop extends adjacent the end of the panels 29 and 31 thus providing means by which said panels are retained in position and also means by which the said panels may easily be removed from the railing 21.

In the preferred embodiment, a lamp 61 is disposed between the panels 29 and 31 to serve as a light source for emitting light through the light permeable sections 33. Said lamp may be supported in any manner well known to those skilled in the art and in the preferred embodiment, is supported by screws 60 that extend through the stop 59 which screws are screwed into the light fixture 61.

While the forms of embodiment herein shown and described, constitute preferred forms, it is to be understood that other forms may be adopted falling within the scope of the claims that follow.

I claim:

1. A railing adapted to be used as a hand railing along a walk surface, which railing comprises in combination:

(A) a pair of horizontally extending rails spaced vertically from one another and spaced from and disposed on one side of the walk surfa'ce;

(B) a pair of substantially opaque and parallelly disposed panels, one of which includes:

(1) a section therein, which section extends through the panel and is .a material that has light permeable characteristics and is oriented for transmitting light therethrough and onto the walk surface;

(C) a lamp disposed between the panels;

(b) means for supporting the panels by both rails; and

(E) figeans for supporting the rails onone side of the 2. A railing as defined in claim 1, characterized to include:

(F) a removal member removably afiixed to said panel supporting means, which member is adapted to extend by the end of said panels 'sufiiciently to prevent the panels from being moved from position.

3. A railing adapted to be used as a hand railing along a walk surface, which railing comprises in combination:

(A) a rail spaced from and disposed on one side of the walk surface;

(B) a substantially opaque panel that includes:

(1) a section herein, which section extends through the panel and is of a material that has light permeable characteristics and is oriented for transmitting light therethrough and onto the walk surface;

(C) a lamp disposed on the side of the panel opposite that of the walk area;

(D) a second rail spaced vertically below the first mentioned rail;

('15) a vertical post supporting the rails;

(F) means for supporting the panel by the rails, said means including:

-(l) a support member :afilxed to said first men- References Cited tioned rail, which member includes:

N1 D T NT (a) a. pair of downwardly extending parallel U TE S ATES PATE S tongues that are spaced from each other 2,766,372 10/1956 Albris 2402 sufiiciently for receiving the panel and to 2772347 11/1956 Lanmol} 240' 2 retain Said interfitting Panel; 5 57,99 10/ 962 Grenadler 240-2 (2) a second support member affixed to said sec- 3131871 5/1964 Foulds 240 "2 0nd mentioned rail, which member includes:

(a) a pair of upwardly extending parallel FOREIGN PATENTS tongues that are spaced from each other 10 331,445 11/1951 r at Britain. sufficiently for receiving the panel therebetween and to retain said interfitting panel NORTON ANSHER Prlmary Exammerand which tongues are spaced opposite the MONROE H. HAYES, Assistant Examiner. tongues included in the first mentioned sup- .port member sufii'ciently for receiving and 5 retaining the panel therebetween. 24( 73 

